Have you noticed that your feet start to adjust quickly? And then you have to knead them long and unpleasantly?
Do your feet often swell and hurt for no reason?
Maybe the skin on your feet is covered with an irritating mesh of blood vessels?
At least one positive answer - and you're at risk. Most likely, the lower extremities have varicose veins. This disease causes the blood vessels to dilate, which in turn disrupts blood flow - some of the blood passes from the deep veins to the superficial veins.
There are even disappointing statistics on this score. According to him, in developed countries, 30 percent of women and 10 percent of men suffer from this disease. These are only those who reach the doctors. As you can imagine, in fact, the numbers are higher, especially among people over 50.
Varicose veins start with a slight discomfort and do not cause serious problems. He is so cunning. I don't want to go to the doctor because of such nonsense, and in the meantime the disease is progressing. The skin gradually darkens, the blood vessels swell like ropes, and even trophic ulcers appear. Blood clots appear in the affected vessels, which then enter other organs and disrupt blood circulation in them. As a result, a fatal outcome is possible.
Have you ever thought that you can die from simple varicose veins?
People don't think about it. And it would be worth it.
After all, all this is easy to prevent - just consult a phlebologist in a timely manner. He will develop a comprehensive program of complex treatment, where sports will play an important role.
Admittedly, not all types of exercise are equally beneficial. Some exercises will relieve your vascular pain, while others will seriously worsen your condition. Until emergency hospitalization.
Agree, it is worth separating one from the other.
In this article we will give detailed information about the effective treatment of varicose veins with gymnastics.
But wait, you can panic early. You may not have varicose veins at all. Now let's compare your condition with the main symptoms of varicose veins.
How to recognize varicose veins, even in the beginning
Some symptoms are visible to the naked eye, others can only be felt. Let's start with the external manifestation.
There are four main ones:
- Spider webs of blood vessels appear on the skin, most often red, blue or purple.
- The veins are very swollen - they look like a rope stretching under the skin.
- Brown spots appear on the lower legs.
- In the evening, the legs swell.
Another group of symptoms is not visible from the outside, but causes concern:
- Cramps and burning in the legs.
- Feeling of heaviness and pain.
- Itching near an enlarged vein.
- Severe pain after standing or sitting for a long time.
As you can see, varicose veins manifest themselves in different ways. But even if you do not suffer from cramps and pain, this is not a reason to postpone a visit to the doctor. The longer you wait, the more the disease progresses. One day there will be an urgent need for medical care, not an option.
Therefore, if you find yourself with some symptoms of varicose veins of the legs - contact a phlebologist immediately.
What if you can't see a doctor in the near future? And the consequences of varicose veins scare you. Or the cramps, burning, pain and heaviness in your legs made you feel so much that you already want to climb the wall. We will tell you how to help yourself in such a situation.
If you follow these 7 proven recommendations, you will reduce the discomfort of varicose veins
Let's talk about the immediate disadvantages - these methods do not have an immediate effect. Although we would love to. But at least gradually reduce the discomfort from varicose veins. Here are 7 tips:
- Do gymnastics as often as possible. . . Any exercise is good for blood circulation. Except for weightlifting and running. But we are ahead of ourselves.
- Wear compression stockings. . . Supports the walls of blood vessels and reduces pressure on them. Swelling and density are reduced, the legs relax.
- Do not sit or stand for long - walk every hour.This will put extra strain on the arteries in the legs and prevent blood stasis. If you are standing while working, try to sit for a few minutes regularly. Lifting the legs. If you sit for a long time, then get up and walk for at least a few minutes every hour so that your feet return the blood to your heart. The same is true for road trips - stop every 45-60 minutes for a short walk.
- Do not stand near open flames or hot radiators.This disrupts blood circulation.
- Eat less salty foods. . . Salt in the body prevents the circulation of fluid.
- Take a relaxing bath at the beginning, not at the end of the day. . . And it is better to do without them.
- Do not sleep while sitting. . . In this case, blood circulation becomes difficult. Place your feet horizontally to reduce tension in the vessels.
Remember that even strict adherence to our advice will not cure you of varicose veins. Contact a phlebologist - this is the only way to get rid of diseased vessels forever.
The doctor will tell you about the next steps - sometimes it is medication, sometimes it is a painless and fast operation, but treatment is always accompanied by changes in lifestyle and exercise. We just talked about lifestyle. Now let's show you the most effective exercises.
These exercises will relieve the symptoms of varicose veins, slow their development and prevent complications.
Dilation of blood vessels is mainly due to blood stasis. Therapeutic leg exercises for varicose veins and edema help lower blood pressure and maintain blood circulation. It also improves the tone of the venous walls - so that even with increasing pressure, the veins will not dilate.
The choice of exercise depends on the stage of the disease. But in any case, follow the motto "it is better to walk and lie down than to sit. "
Walking, jogging, cycling and swimming are useful. The easiest way to walk is to involve the calf muscles by improving blood circulation. Change positions often and lift your legs.
If your legs are still not covered with thick varicose veins and only the first signs of the disease appear, then the following actions will be useful for you:
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Stand on your toes and then slowly lower your heels until they touch the ground. Get on your toes again and repeat the exercise. |
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Lift your left leg and move as described by the eight. Repeat this with your right foot. |
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Walk in your seat and wave your arms vigorously. Raise your knees as high as possible - to waist level. |
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Stand up straight and extend your arms in front of you. Sit down slowly. Make sure your knees do not protrude beyond the boundaries of your feet. |
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Sit down and put your hands behind the chair. Lift your legs toward the torso and then extend them forward. |
In fact, your actions are aimed at improving blood circulation in the lower extremities.
Now let's look at working with the feet - this is an elementary exercise and does not require much effort and time.
Here's how to do it:
- Lie or sit with your feet on your knees.
- Use your fingertips as a brush and draw a circle in the air. Don't move your whole leg, just your ankle.
- Pull the sock towards you as much as possible. You will feel warmth in your calf muscles.
- Stretch your toes by moving your calf muscles and lower your heels.
- Turn your feet - first out, then to each other.
- Repeat the exercise several times.
No special equipment is required for such activities. Sit on your favorite couch, lift your legs and train your joints. Remember to exercise regularly for varicose veins and then you can easily improve your blood circulation.
We have a more effective set of exercises - with it you will tighten not only the legs, but also the muscles and joints of other parts of the body. But it will take extra time to find it. If this is not possible, stop the previous exercises. If you can cut extra minutes, do the ones described above and in addition to this complex.
However, it stimulates blood circulation not only in the legs, but in the whole body.
Activities for neck and head:
- We make circular motions with our heads - 10 in one direction, 10. In the other. Move slowly, feel your neck muscles working.
- We pull the chin to the chest 3-4 times, then pull the back of the head back, the same 3-4 times. Both slowly and carefully.
Exercises for shoulders and arms:
- We move forward and backward with our shoulders. We move our shoulders slowly, pulling the muscles.
- We straighten our arms and make circular movements. They do not need to wave like a windmill. Maintain a speed of 2 rpm. Do not hold your breath.
Low back exercises:
- Put your hands on your belt. Turn the lower back completely to one side and then to the other side 10 times.
- Bend back and forth. Keep your feet together.
Foot activity:Slowly do 10 squats. Extra weight cannot be used.
Press classes:
- Lie on your back and move your legs like a pedal - practice cycling.
- Exercise while lying down.
We completely forgot to talk about sports. But most of us are asked about it. The most useful sport for you is swimming. When immersed in water, the pressure in the circulatory system returns to normal. Swimming is good not only for the heart, but also for the immune and nervous systems. It also strengthens the leg muscles.
What about other sports? For example, is it possible to escape?
Not all exercises are good for blood vessels. Let's move on to those that can seriously hurt you.
Which exercises kill the whole result of the treatment of varicose veins
Let's say you are an ideal patient. You follow all the doctor's instructions: take medication, wear compression underwear, change your lifestyle. The symptoms of the disease gradually disappear. You are happy, the doctor is happy.
And then you think, why not combine the result with regular exercise? You completely forget about varicose veins and decide to squat with a good load to train your legs.
Bad idea. Now all the work is empty. Your blood vessels will dilate even more than before.
What's the matter?
There are a number of exercises that increase the load on the arteries and destroy them when the walls of the arteries weaken:
- Strength training.
- Weighted squats.
- Long-term use of a sports bike.
- High and long jump.
- Running on a hard surface.
If you continue to run or lift regularly at the gym, no treatment will help. Therefore, do not try your luck.
5 powerful accelerators for your recovery from varicose veins
Yes, this is normal. We have already talked about some of them. But believe me, they are really important and worth repeating.
If you have already consulted a phlebologist and started vascular treatment, these 5 tips will help you recover faster:
- Do not sit or stand in the same position for a long time. It is especially dangerous to cross your legs - it impedes blood circulation.
- Perform the recommended exercises regularly, walk more and wear comfortable shoes.
- Use compression stockings selected by your doctor.
- Follow your weight. In obese people, the load on the venous system increases.
- After exercising, lie on your back and rest your feet on the wall so that they are above your head. This will allow blood to flow from the legs.
But this is not a panacea. Again, these tips only help with treatment. You will not be able to cope with the disease without the help of a doctor.
By the way, remember we talked about the symptoms of varicose veins? Suppose you found them. But only a phlebologist can make an accurate diagnosis. Remember that treatment begins with a correct diagnosis.
Where to diagnose varicose veins
The accuracy of the diagnosis of varicose veins of the lower extremities depends on the equipment of the clinic. During the examination of patients, doctors perform ultrasound duplex angioscanning. It is a quick and painless method for examining superficial and deep veins.
The doctor clearly sees the problem area of the blood vessels and the obstacles to blood flow. Weakened venous valves quickly identify.
The study allows the phlebologist to get accurate information about the vessels and develop a detailed treatment plan.
But diagnostics is just the beginning. Any patient needs treatment first. It is important who will carry it and with what equipment.